Weekend Ramblings

We had a lovely three day weekend with cooperative, sunny weather. The dogs got to get out and about as did we.

We saw a lot of wildlife including a Red-tailed Hawk that perched very close to us and eyed the dogs with great apprehension. I was so mesmerized watching I forgot to take pictures.

Quite a bit of cooking and knitting was enjoyed.

Swimming and Fetching

Uh oh! I smell a new hobby on the horizon.

I made my maiden voyage to Fabric Depot. They were having a sale! It's reputation is well deserved. It was overwhelming, full of budget busting perils and really fun!

Happy Valentine's Day!

One of the many things my husband and I share is a love of plants. We both garden outdoors and each had scads of houseplants when we met.

Philodendrons fill our breakfast nook.

I'm partial to the smaller, more delicate and unusual specimens.
Orchids, ferns, succulents.

Particularly those that bloom.

Morgan has a penchant for the big and bold foliage.

Together we have quite the conservatory.

Have a fantastic three day weekend with loved ones!

Queen of Beads

I couldn't help myself. I absolutely had to sign up for the Rockin' Sock Club again this year. I decided that to justify the expense to myself I needed to make a more concerted effort to actually knit the kits as they arrived rather than fondling them lovingly and adding to the stash.
Luckily for me the first kit of the year was beautiful and also constructed in a cuff down manner, mostly familiar to me and without frustration.
I did learn a new cast on (tubular) and knit for the first time with beads (love it!).

Pattern: Queen of Beads by Sivia Harding for BMFA 2009 World Sock Domination Tour
Yarn: BMFA Lightweight Socks that Rock in 'My Blue Heaven'
Needles: US 1, 2.25 mm
Size: Large with minor mods, decreased foot after gusset to 32 sts.

Best Friends Forever

We make friends throughout our lives. It is reassuring to know that it's still possible in my thirties to make a new best friend. Someone special enough to make me giggle and think the term BFF ( best friends forever) is cute (and applicable).
When D and I met, it was clear we were kindred spirits, long lost sisters and probable partners in all sorts of future mischief and fun.
When D became pregnant with her first and her feet started to swell, I realized who I was knitting these socks for. So happy almost birthday mama to be D.

Pattern: BFF by Cookie A.
Yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock-Mediumweight in 'Farmhouse'
and Koigu KPPPM for toes and heel
Needles: US 1.5, 2.5 mm

Urban Decay

I searched and searched for a Martha Stewart worthy backdrop for this photo shoot but instead I was blessed with wind and a tiny bit of sun at the end of the day in the local baseball diamond. I kinda like the results.
My NEW camera has amazingly zippy shutter speed and it was fun snapping away as the blanket danced away for me.
The blanket is, in real life very far from industrial. It is soft and thin yet warm with lovely drape. I hate my seaming but I hate seaming in general so probably it's not so bad it's just me wishing for unattainable seamless-ness.
More juicy details (disasters and all) for Ravelry users here. This has been a long drawn out one and I felt tremendous relief in moving it out of the knitting basket and onto the couch.

Pattern: Block Striped Afghan by Sarah Dallas
Needles: US 6, 4.0mm
Yarn: Rowan Yorkshire Tweed DK
Started: January 2006